Will Your Institution’s Voice Be Heard on DACA?
The American Council on Education, the major coordinating association for our nation’s colleges and universities, is leading the Protect Dreamers Higher Education Coalition, of which AACTE is a member. The coalition is coordinating a week of advocacy efforts beginning today, October 16, and has developed a website providing multiple resources related to Dreamers, including fact sheets and talking points, which can be used by individual campuses for advocacy.
In addition, the coalition is leading a letter that your institution can sign on to – but time is tight. The deadline is Wednesday, October 18, at noon EDT. To have your institution sign on to the letter, please reach out to your president’s office as well as your government relations staff. Find the instructions here.
Who Are the Dreamers?
Dreamers are young people who were brought to the U.S. as children. Established in 2012 by executive order, DACA (the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) protects Dreamers from deportation for 2 years if they file the required paperwork and meet eligibility criteria. On September 5, President Trump rescinded the policy and announced that it will end March 5, 2018, unless Congress passes legislation to address the Dreamers.
Currently 1.9 million young people are eligible for DACA, and 800,000 hold DACA status. The average age of a DACA recipient is 25. Some 45% of DACA recipients are enrolled in school or college. Your school or college of education might currently enroll some DACA recipients; in addition, your candidates are likely interacting with PK-12 students who are protected by DACA.
To learn more, visit www.acenet.edu/dreamers.
Tags: advocacy, diversity, equity, federal issues
